Fruit-drier.



A U. G. STO'VER.

FRUIT DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I5, 1917.

1 ,2?6,988= Patented Aug. 27, 1918..

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ream-Dama- Specification of LettersPatent. Patent d Aug- 1 Application filed October 15, 1917'. SerialNo. 196,678.

To all whom it maydconoern:

Be it known that I, ULYSS'ES G. Srovnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waynesboro, in the county of Franklinand State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Fruit- Driers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. 7

This invention relates to certain improvements in fruit driers, and has relation more particularly to a device of this general charactor of a portable type and which is adapted for use, in connection with ordinary cooking stoves, and it is an object of thefinvention to provide a device of this general character with novel and improved means whereby the heat current passing through the device may be readily and conveniently regulated. l

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved fruit driers wherein certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. 4

The novel features ofmy invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now. proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in rear elevation of a fruit drier constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the device as herein embodied with the top plates in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the device as illustrated in Fig. l; and a Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the device as disclosed in Fig. 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings B denotes a base frame of rectangular form and having its walls inclined or flared outward at thebottom and which base frame is preferably rectangular in form. The lower marginal portions of the side walls of the base frame B are cut out or recessed as at 1 to afford air inlets for a purpose which is believed to be clearly apparent tov those skilled in the art to which my present invention pertains. i

The baseframeB is open at its top, and bottom and secured to the corners of the frame B; are the upstanding posts P connected at their upper end portions by the cross bar C and alsov connected longitudinally by a series of side bars S. The side bars S. are spaced apart to afford-1 horizontally disposed openings12. The inner face of each of the bars S is provided with the longitudinally disposed ribor shoulder 3 which serves as a guide or support for a tray T. It has also been found of decided advantage to secure to each of the upper side bars S and to the lower portion of a corner post P the diagonally arranged brace rod 4 and which rod is suitably secured as at 5to. the several bars S. which the brace rod overlies. The brace rod 4 serves to impart greater rigidity to the structure as do also the cross brace rods 6 secured to the rear posts P adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Each of the trays T as herein embodied consists of a rectangular wooden frame 7 provided with a perforate bottom 8 preferably of a reticulated fabric and through which a free passage of air currents is permitted. The tray is adapted to slide endwise into the device between vertically adjacent ribs or shoulders 3. At the ends the trays are ofgreatervertical width than at the sides and are so proportioned and arrangedthat they fit closely one upon the other and thereby closing completely the opposite ends or front and rear of the device.

Extending across the top of the device and suitably secured to the cross bars C and the upper side bars S is a perforate fabric 9 preferably reticulated and which serves to permit the free escape of the moisture'laden air and exclude insects or the like. Mounted within the base frameB is a fiat deflector or valve D- extending longitudinally of the frame B and which is provided at one end a with a. crank or handle 10 whereby the same may be turnedfrom a horizontal to a vertical position or to any intermediate position. The deflector or valve'D is provided with suitable perforations 11 which serveto assist 1 in distributing and deflecting the ascended currents of heated air and to drive the same to one side'or the other of the device as the occasion may require.

Disposed along the upper edges of the cross bars 0 are the metallic straps 12 having depending angular extensions 1% suitably secured to the upper end portions of the posts P. The opposite end portions of the straps 12 in close proximity to the posts P are upwardly crimped or pinched as at 15 to afford bearings for the extended end portions of the rods 16 suitably secured to the longitudinal margins of the plates 17. The plates 17 are of such length and width as to close the upper portion of the device when at the limit of their movements toward the cross bar C. The marginal portion of each of the plates adjacent the rod 16 is provided with a series of longitudinally disposed restricted openings 18 through which moisture laden air is adapted to escape when the plates 17 are in closed position. Each of said plates at an end thereof is provided with an upstanding ear 19 with which is piv'otally engaged a rod 20 adapted to overlie the adjacent cross bar C. The rod 20 is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 21 through which is directed a threaded shank 22 extending outwardly from the adjacent cross beam C and threaded upon said shanl' 22 is a winged nut 23 co-acting with the rod 20 and the cross bar C for maintaining the plate 17 in various positions in accordance with the re quirements of practice.

In operation my improved device is seated on top of a cook stove or the like and the trays, filled with fruit or other material to be dried, are inserted therein. Air flows inward through the cut out portions or recesses 1 and is properly heated by the stove or the like and ascends through the trays T and escapes at the top. The flow of the air currents may be readily and conveniently regulated by the plates 17 in accordance with the necessities of practice and it has been fully demonstrated in actual practice that the drying operation is materially facilitated by the use of these plates 17 as the fruit or other material retains a. more natural color when dried. It has also been fully demonstrated in practice that with the use of the plate 17 the air may be of a temperature materially lower than driers of a somewhat similar character as it will be at once self evident that the plates 17 may be adjusted to retard the air currents while the restricted openings 18 in said plates serve to permit the escape of the moisture laden air. When it should be desired to admit air into the device at points above the base frameB it is only necessary to remove a tray T. hen a tray T is removed it will be at once self evident that air may readily have ingress through the openings afforded araeas between the adjacent side bars Sv and at the front and rear of the device.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious-that a fruit drier constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled andloperated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without materially departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason 1 do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the severalparts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A drier comprising a frame having its upper and lower ends open, trays removably engaged within the frame, and plates hingedly connected with the opposite sides of the frame at the top thereof and adapted to overlie said top, the hinged marginal portions of the plate being provided with re stricted openings.

A drier comprising a frame having its upper and lower ends open, trays removably engaged within the frame, plates hingedly connected with the opposite sides of the frame at the top thereof and adapted to overlie said top. the hinged marginal portions of the plate being provided with restricted openings, and means carried by the plates and co-acting with the frames for maintaining said plates in different positionsrelative to the frame.

3. A drier comprising a frame having its upper and lower ends open, trays removably engaged within the frame, plates hingedly connected with the opposite sides of the frame at the top thereof and adaptedto overlie said top, the hinged marginal portionsof the plate being provided with restricted openings, an upstanding ear carried b 1 an end po tion of each of the plates, a rod pivotally engaged with said ear and overlying the adjacent wall of the frame, said rod. being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, an outstanding threaded shank carried by said wall of the frame and extending through the, slot of the rod, and a clamping member engaged with said shank. v

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflixniy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ULYSSES STOVER.

Witnesses:

J ASTRIan, C AS. B. CLAYTON.

Gepics of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, 'by addressing the Commissioner of Eaten ts,

Washin ton, 33. G. i 

